Improved steam apparatus to be substituted for the pistons and cylinders of steam



UNITED STATES PAENT Tries.

ABRAM PATTERSON, oF RUSH, PENNSYLVANIA.

IVIPROVED STEAM APPARATUS T0 BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS OF STEAM- ENGINES AND SAFETY-VALVES OF STEAM-BOILERS.

Spccilication forming part of Letters Patent No. hflblli, dated February 26, 1839.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM PATTERSON, of Rush, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus or Substitute for the Ordinary Steam Cylinder, Piston, and Safety- Valve in a SteainEngine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description.

The nature of my invention consists of aseries of concentric cylinders placed one within the other.

To construct this apparatus, I iirst make a cylinder with a projecting rim at the bottom, Figure 1, A, with four loops, two in the Same line with cach other on each side, set opposite each other, as atgg g g. Then I make another smaller cylinder, C, Fig. 2, which, like the former, has a projecting rim at the bottom, and surround it with another shorter cylinder, which slides tight onto the inner cylinder, C, forming a shoulder at j', and by that means form a wider space above it between the inner and outer cylinders for the purpose of containing sufficient mercurial packing to fill the increased circumference of the space between the piston and outer cylinder., I then make a bottom plate, K, Fig. 4, of a circular form equal in diameter to that of the outer cylinder, with an opening into the center of the inner cylinder, C, requisite to receive the steam and exhaustion pipes, with two sets of bolt-holes corresponding to those of the projecting rim of the outer and inner cylinders. Then I irst bolt the smallest cylinder onto the bottom plate, then the largest cylinder may be bolted on. The bolts are shown at E E E E, Fig. 2. Close to the bottom a cock, H, Figs. l, 2, and 3, is set for the purpose of drawing oft' the mercury used as packing between the cylinders,whenevcr necessary, from the cell or space between them. I then make another cylinder, B, Figs. l and 2, of such diameter as to be worked between the other two without touching either. This is furnished at the top with a head and piston` rod, c, Figs. I and 2. Near the bottom of the piston-rod a stopcock, F, Figs. l and 2, communicates with the inside of the cylinder B, which I call the cylindrical piston.77 Near the top of the piston-rod ay strong bar, D, passes through it at right angles'. Into the ends of this bar two guides, E E, Fig. l, are fastened. This apparatus I surround with another, as shown by the dotted lines L, Figs. 1 and 3, and double lines in the section, Fig. 2, which I call the receiver,7 at the lower extremity of which a cock, G, is placed.

Another mode of making this apparatus is represented by Fig. 3. The larger cylinder A is made without loops. Theinner cylinder in this form of the apparatus is like that shown at C, Fig. 2. The cylindrical piston B, Fig. 3, is provided with three or more longitudinal bars permanently attached to the outside of the said cylindrical piston in a line parallel with one through the center and extending the whole length of it. These bars or projections are of use to keep the piston steady in its proper situation, and are of such thickness as to press closely against the inner surface of the outer cylinder and barely to allbw the piston a free motion with as little friction as possible. They are shown at C C C, Fig. 3. The inter stices between these projections will be filled by the column of mercurial packing. The dotted lines round this form of the apparatus Show a receiver like the former. The cock G at the bottom is inserted for the recovery of mercury from the receiver in case it should be driven into it. Close to the bottom a cock, H, is inserted which communicates with the cell or space between the cylinders C and A, in which the piston is placed.

This lastdescribed modification is the most appropriate form for a safety-valve, for which purpose it is to be bolted permanently onto the boiler over an opening therein made for that purpose, and mercury sufiicient to constitute a column equal to the force of steam intended to be sustained in the boiler (which maybe graduated by the ordinary scale) is to be put into the cell between the outer and inner cylinders; then open the cock or screw at D in thetop of the head of the cylindrical piston for the purpose of allowing the air to escape and let down the piston, which should not touch the bottom of the cell.

allowed to touch the top of the inner cylinder, but should be supported by the projections of the head of the cylindrical piston, which are shown at N N, Fig. 3; then shut the cock or screw in the top and confine this valve. By

Neither should the head of the cylindrical piston be applying weight to the piston-rod C or piston-` head, in any of the ordinary modes, when force of steam is applied beyond a certain pressure, provided for as above, the mercury will be driven over and thereby open a communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the valve by its escape.

The first-described modication of this apparatus is to be placed at any convenient distance from the boiler7 so as to allow the admission of steam and exhaustion pipes at the bottom of plate K,Fig. 4, through its central opening into the inner cylinder, C, of this apparatus,and with its necessary stop-cocks may be permanently secured in its place by the fastenings usually employed to conline the ordinary cylinder and piston, and may then be used as a substitute for the same.

To adjust the cylindrical piston for use, the stop-cock F, Fig. l, is to be opened for the escape of the air; then mercury sufcient to supply a column on the outside of the piston, indicating the force of steam to be employed, is to be putinto the cell, when the cylindrical piston is to be let down into 'the mercury and shut the cock, when steam being admitted under. the piston it will be elevated, and when the steam is let off or condensed, or both, then the piston returns to its first position, from the top of which, or the piston-rod, motion may be obtained as a propelling power.

Either of the forms may be used as a safetyvalve, as a steamgage, or as a substitute for the ordinary steamcylinder and piston. This apparatus may be Worked either single or in connection with one or more.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The employment of an apparatus constructed as herein described as a substitute for a steam-cylinder and piston of a steam-engine and the safety-valve of steanrboilers.

2. The employment of mercury in the said apparatus for the double purpose of packing and steam-gage.

ABRAM PATTERSON.

VtneSSeS:

C; H. ATHBERGER, CHESTER PATTERsoN. 

